44 



and the persulphomesitylate of lime 



2so 3 + c 6 h s o + 2ca o + ho. 

 When an excess of phosphorus is used in the process 

 for making iodide of mesityl, there is obtained in the retort 

 a white matter in silky crystals, which dissolves in water, is 

 very acid, and forms well characterized salts, which, when 

 heated, take fire and burn with a well marked flame of phos- 

 phorus. This acid is termed hypophosphomesitylous acid; 

 and the formula of the hypophosphomesitylate of baryta is 



P 2 0+C 6 H 5 + BflO+ HO. 



In the decomposition of mesitic alcohol by perchloride 

 of phosphorus there is obtained an acid which gives a soda 

 salt crystallizing in rhombs which contain water of crystal- 

 lization. Their formula is 



P 2 O s + Nfl o + c 6 h 5 o +6HO. 



Professor Kane stated that he had obtained also the aldehyd 

 of the mesityl series, as well as bodies procured by the action 

 of chlorine and iodine on mesitylene, and the acids which 

 are generated by the oxidation of mesitic alcohol, the history 

 of which bodies shall form the subject of another paper. 



The empyreumatic oil, which is produced in small quan- 

 tity when mesitic alcohol is prepared by distilling acetate of 

 lime, has been submitted to analysis by Professor Kane, and 

 its composition found to be c 10 h 8 o. It therefore belongs to 

 the family of which oil of turpentine is the base, and is po- 

 lymeric with camphor, and the pinic, sylvic, and copaivic 

 acids.* 



Dr. Apjohn read a paper " On the Specific Heats of the 

 Aeriform Fluids." 



The first part of this communication was an analysis of, 

 and some critical remarks upon, the labours of those who 



* In this abstract the atomic weights are taken, Hydrogen = 1. Oxygen = 8. 

 Carbon = 6, 13. 



